Wales Green Party AGM and National Gathering

Join the Wales Green Party Annual General Meeting and National Gathering to make important decisions for 2017, including: -

- amending our Policies for a Sustainable Society in Wales which outline the measures we will take to create a fairer society and protect our environment.

- electing officers to Wales Green Party Council who will be responsible for the effective running of our party.

- hustings for the position of Leader and Deputy Leader of Wales Green Party.

- hearing from current Leader and Deputy Leader of Wales Green Party, Alice Hooker-Stroud and Hannah Pudner.

In addition, we will welcome guest speakers and offer essential training to local parties and candidates.

And you'll meet like-minded people, and have the opportunity to share your ideas for the future of Wales Green Party.

Confirmed speakers / panellists include: Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Irish Green Party, Steven Agnew, Leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party, Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green Party; John Vidal, Environment Editor, The Guardian; Laurence Matthews, Author, Framespotting; Jess McQuade, WWF Cymru, Adrian Ramsay, Chief Executive, Centre for Alternative Technology; Pal Woodruff, Regional Campaign Coordinator NW.

Tea and coffee will be provided. Delegates can bring their own lunch or purchase a ticket for the buffet on the Sunday (tickets now sold out). There is no pre-bookable lunch available on the Saturday.

There will be a social event on the Saturday night at the local curry house, followed by a quiz organised by Welsh Young Greens.

Delegate are invited to participate in our Green Bake Off competition. Details here.

TIMETABLE subject to change

Saturday 12th November

Throughout the event:

Brexit and toxic politics.

Boards in the main hall will be up throughout the conference to be used as way of crowdsourcing our thoughts and feelings on the current political landscape. You are invited to contribute in order to get a broad range of views on what is a very tumultuous time in politics and inform our work over the coming years.

0930:

Registration Opens

Tea & Coffee

Green bake-off drop off

1030 - 1045

A brief introduction to the concept of crowdsourcing on Brexit and toxic politics will be made in the main hall for those interested. Even if you don't attend this session, you can input throughout the AGM.

1100 – 1140:

Welcome followed by Reports – Section A

John Morgan, General Secretary, Wales Green Party

Find out what our elected council have been up to over the last year.

1140 – 1200:

Leader’s Speech, Alice Hooker-Stroud

1200 – 1300:

Does our internal organisation reflect the external political landscape (and should it)?

Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green Party; Eamon Ryan TD, Leader of the Irish Green Party; Steven Agnew MLA, Leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party; Amelia Womack, Deputy Leader, Green Party of England & Wales

There are potentially big changes afoot within the structural organisation of the Green Party of England and Wales, with a Governance Review ongoing. It’s time to ask ourselves – what kind of relationship with our colleagues in England best serves our party?

In 1990, both the Green Party in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Greens became independent from the Green Party of England and Wales (previously, ‘The Green Party’), but in 2006, The Green Party in Northern Ireland became part of the Ireland Green Party. Do the models of the Green Parties of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland offer any viable alternatives, should we want one?

Additionally, the devolution arrangements between Westminster and each of the devolved nations varies, with Welsh Government having the least autonomy. Welsh national media is only watched by a small percentage of the population – about 10-15%. Does the external political landscape make a difference to how we best organise for electoral success, and what impact might this have on our choice of organisational model or structure?

We invite Wales Green Party members to learn about and discuss these matters with representatives of all Green Parties across the UK, to start a conversation within the party about our relationship with the Green Party of England and Wales.

1300 – 1400:

Lunch

Green bake-off judging

1400 – 1405:

Greetings from the co-leaders of Green Party of England & Wales

Caroline Lucas & Jonathan Bartley – video

1405 – 1540:

Plenary – Section C Motions

Discuss, approve or reject the policy motions submitted to the Annual General Meeting by members.

1540 – 1600:

Break – Tea & Coffee

1600 – 1700:

Learning from our Celtic cousins

Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green Party; Eamon Ryan TD, Leader of the Irish Green Party; Steven Agnew MLA, Leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party

This May Greens achieved the highest number of votes in a Scottish election, with six MSPs in Holyrood. They achieved the first ever elected Green Parliamentarian in the UK in 1999. The Green Party in Northern Ireland gained their first elected representative in the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, and now hold two seats as of May this year. The Green Party in Ireland gained their first seat in the Irish Parliament in 1989. In both 2002 and 2007 they held six seats and went into coalition Government in 2007. Following the economic crash in 2008, the party lost all its seats but in May this year have once again achieved two seats in Parliament and secured their first ever elected senator in the Seaned (Ireland’s second house).

What can the Wales Green Party learn from their electoral success?

1700 – 1800:

TRAINING: Campaign planning for local parties

TEMPEST ROOM

Pål Woodruff, North West Campaign Co-ordinator

FRINGE: How you can get involved in policy development

JOHN EDWARDS ROOM

John Morgan, General Secretary, Wales Green Party

1900 – late

Evening social – Curry & Young Greens Quiz

Green bake-off auction and winners announced

Sunday 13th November

0900 – 1000:

TRAINING: How to get elected to your local Council (and what to do when you get there)

MAIN HALL

Gwynfor Edwards, Green Councillor, Gwynedd Council

FRINGE: Welsh Green Pride Annual General Meeting

TEMPEST ROOM

Join WGP’s LGBTIQ+ group to review the year’s activities.

1000 – 1050:

Hustings, for Wales Green Party Council positions, Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson

1050 – 1100:

Remembrance Day thoughts

1100 – 1115:

Break – Tea & Coffee

1115 – 1215:

How can we bring climate change back on to the agenda?

John Vidal, Environment Editor, The Guardian; Adrian Ramsay, Chief Executive, Centre for Alternative Technology; Laurence Matthews, Author of Framespotting, Jessica McQuade, Policy and Advocacy Officer, WWF Cymru.

The panel discuss the lack of attention given to climate change, and what we can do to change the situation.

1215 – 1315:

Plenary – Section D organisational motions followed by remaining Section C motions if time allows

Discuss, approve or reject the organisational motions submitted to the Annual General Meeting by members.

1315 – 1415:

Lunch & voting for officer positions

1415 – 1430:

Deputy Leader’s Speech, Hannah Pudner

1430 – 1530

Plenary – continued

1530 – 1550:

Break –Tea & Coffee

1550 – 1650:

FRINGE: Youth Politics: Not Just for Youth

MAIN HALL

Young people in Wales face a variety of inequalities due to increasing austerity. We invite members of all ages to join an open discussion about these inequalities and how everyone can be involved in fighting for the rights of young people. The fringe won't be a straightforward panel and will allow you to get creative. We will be joined by Scotland youngest MSP Ross Greer who will share his experiences of being a youth voice in the Scottish parliament.

FRINGE: Progressive Alliance

TEMPEST ROOM

Alice Hooker-Stroud & Hannah Pudner, Wales Green Party

What does the progressive alliance mean for Wales, and how might it play out at local and national level?

1650 – 1700:

Closing remarks, John Morgan, General Secretary